Editing Crespi d'Adda (section)

===19th century===
[[File:Crespi d’Adda, Castello (Ian Spackman 2007-007-30).jpg|thumb|left|Crespi's Castle]]
In 1869 [[Cristoforo Benigno Crespi]], a textile manufacturer from [[Busto Arsizio]] [[Province of varese|(Varese)]], bought the {{Convert|1|km|mi|1|adj=on}} valley between the rivers [[Brembo River|Brembo]] and [[Adda River, Italy|Adda]], to the south of [[Capriate San Gervasio|Capriate]], with the intention of installing a [[cotton mill]] on the banks of the Adda.<ref name=autogenerated3>[http://db.formez.it/ArchivioEsperienze.nsf/1906f55ba24156a3c1256da9003022a4/63ad17e92802d991c1256f42003f32e4/$FILE/Report_Unesco730.pdf Info at db.formez.it] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080530062009/http://db.formez.it/ArchivioEsperienze.nsf/1906f55ba24156a3c1256da9003022a4/63ad17e92802d991c1256f42003f32e4/%24FILE/Report_Unesco730.pdf |date=2008-05-30 }}</ref>

Cristoforo Crespi introduced the most modern spinning, weaving and finishing processes in his [[Cotton Mill]].<ref name=autogenerated2>[http://www.villaggiocrespi.it/ENG/Value.htm#PAESAGGIO Value And History Of The Village Of Crespi D'Adda<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081105204609/http://www.villaggiocrespi.it/ENG/Value.htm |date=2008-11-05 }}</ref> The hydroelectric power plant in [[Trezzo sull'Adda|Trezzo]], on the Adda river just a few kilometers upwards, was built up around 1906 for the manufacturer Cristoforo Benigno Crespi.<ref>[http://www.centrovolta.it/laviadellenergia/inglese/territorio/trezzo.htm www.laviadellenergia.it - Territory - Territorial Policies - Taccani Hydroelectric Power Station, Trezzo d'Adda, Milano<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081005120907/http://www.centrovolta.it/laviadellenergia/inglese/territorio/trezzo.htm |date=2008-10-05 }}</ref> The settlement which was built in 1878 next to the cotton-mill was a village, a residential area provided with social services such as a clinic, a [[school|school building]], a [[theatre]], a [[cemetery]], a wash-house and a [[Church (building)|church]].<ref>{{in lang|it}} [http://www.crespidadda.it Crespi d'Adda website]</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.worldheritagesite.org/sites/crespidadda.html |title=Crespi d'Adda - World Heritage Site - Pictures, info and travel reports<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2008-05-30 |archive-date=2008-05-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511233508/http://www.worldheritagesite.org/sites/crespidadda.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Both the town and the factory were illuminated thanks to electric light.<ref name=autogenerated1>[http://www.crespidadda.it  Crespi d'Adda]</ref> The village of Crespi d'Adda was the first village in [[Italy]] to have modern public lighting.<ref>[http://www.villaggiocrespi.it/ENG.htm What Is Crespi D'Adda?<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928004316/http://www.villaggiocrespi.it/ENG.htm |date=2007-09-28 }}</ref> The workers houses, of [[England|English]] inspiration, are lined up in order along parallel roads to the east of the [[factory]].<ref name=autogenerated2 /> A tree-lined avenue separates the production zone from the houses, overlooking a chequer-board road plan.<ref>{{in lang|it}} [http://www.apt.bergamo.it/volantiniinrete/bg%20e%20prov%20Inglese/the%20signs%20of%20man.pdf Info on apt.bergamo.it] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080530062009/http://www.apt.bergamo.it/volantiniinrete/bg%20e%20prov%20Inglese/the%20signs%20of%20man.pdf |date=2008-05-30 }}</ref> The whole [[architecture]] and town planning (except the first spinning department, created by [[engineer]] Angelo Colla), was submitted to the [[architect]] Ernesto Pirovano. For about fifty years Pirovano, helped by the [[engineer]] Pietro Brunati, ran the construction of the village.<ref name=autogenerated1 /> model shops toy-like constructions / miniatures  had been made to educate and exemplify new trends in social thinking and scientific advances to the inhabitants in the form of suitcases that contained them.

In 1889 the son of Cristoforo, [[Silvio Benigno Crespi]], started work in the [[factory]] as a director, after spending time in [[Oldham|Oldham, England]].<ref name=autogenerated1 /> He turned away from the large multiple-occupancy blocks in favour of the single-family house, with its own garden, which he saw as conducive to [[harmony]] and a defence against industrial strife. He put this policy into practice in 1892 and the years that followed, with success, since there was no [[strike action|strike]] or other forms of social disorder for the fifty years of Crespi management.<ref name=autogenerated3 />